Wednesday, January 28, 2004

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Wednesday, January 28th, 2004


BELOW and ATTACHED is a calendar of events for the next several months on health and budget issues. Thank you to those organizations who submitted their events for inclusion, and we invite others to do so as well.

Three events of specific note for next week:

* The California Health and Human Services Agency will hold another "stakeholders meeting," this time in Los Angeles, on their proposal for Medi-Cal "redesign" that includes $400 million in cuts. That meeting is on Wednesday, February 4th. It is expected to be a repeat of the Sacramento meeting earlier this week, but allow Southern California advocates to have their questions and comments addressed.

* For organizations supporting the universal health care bill SB 921, Senator Sheila Kuehl will open a organizational kickoff meeting promptly at 1:00pm on Monday, February 2, 2004, at the Trinity Episcopalian Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento. Since she needs to return to the Capitol quickly for an afternoon hearing, please come to the Cathedral early so that the meeting can begin on time.

* The California Budget Project is holding their annual budget briefing on Tuesday, February 3rd, from 2:00-3:30pm at the State Capitol, Room 437. RSVP to Rebecca at 916-444-0500, or cbp@cbp.org. The title is "Terminating the Deficit: Does the Governor's 2004-05 Proposed Budget Restore California's Fiscal Health While Protecting Public Services?"

--


HEALTH AND BUDGET ADVOCACY CALENDAR

This is a calendar of public events of interest to California advocates for the uninsured. The calendar will be updated on a regular basis. To place something on this calendar, please e-mail the specifics to Health Access Foundation (information below).

For more information on any event, contact the lead organization (in parentheses). Given the activity in this area, this is not meant as a comprehensive list, but a way for organizations to announce public events to a broader audience, and a guide for organizations seeking to schedule their own activities.


JANUARY

Thurs. Jan 29th:
o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference: 11:00 a.m. Long Beach City College-Liberal Arts Campus, 4901 E. Carson St., Building “I”, Board of Trustees Meeting Room. Long Beach.

o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference: “Wheel of Budget Misfortune” 12:00p.m. Laney Community College, 900 Fallon Street, Oakland.

Fri. Jan 30th:
o “An Update on Governor’s New Budget Proposal.” Speakers will include Jean Ross, ED, California Budget Project; Anthony Wright, ED, Health Access; Assemblywoman Judy Chu; Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, and State Senator Sheila Kuehl. Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Westminster Chapel, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

o Talk: Single Payer Health Care: What Is It and Why Do We Need It? Guest speaker: Vishu Lingappa, PhD, MD, UCSF Professor of Physiology and Medicine and Co-Author of California’s Single Payer Universal Health Care Initiative, Proposition 186 (1994). 12:00pm. UCLA Medical School, Center for Health Sciences, Room 33-105, Los Angeles. For more information contact Amy Tso, MSII, amytso@ucla.edu (California Physicians Alliance)

Sat. Jan. 31st:
o Education not Incarceration Forum to organize a response to the state budget. 11:00am-1:00pm, at Laney College, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. (near Lake Merritt BART) For more info: 510-444-0484 or http://www.may8.org/

o Grassroots Meeting. Topic: Yes on Proposition 56, For Budget Accountability in California. Speakers: John Kosinski, SEIU 250, SF Political Coordinator and Ken Tray, United Educators SF Political Director. Home of CaPA members Susan Cieutat, RN, JD, MPH and Bob Markel. 531 Grove Street, San Francisco (near Civic Center) (Health Care for All-San Francisco & California Physicians Alliance)

o Physicians, clinicians and medical students march to support grocery workers and save health care. Grocery workers are on strike and fighting to keep affordable health insurance for themselves and for their families. Join us to send Safeway a message. Gather at Mosswood Park (MacArthur & Broadway), Oakland


FEBRUARY

Mon. Feb. 2nd:
o Advocacy Organization Meeting on Universal Health Care and SB921 with Senator Sheila Kuehl. 1:00pm-4:00pm. Trinity Episcopalian Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento. (Health Care for All Californians Campaign)

o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference, with Groundhog Day theme. 10:30am. State Capitol, North Steps. Sacramento.

Tues. Feb 3rd:
o Legislative Budget Briefing: “Terminating the Deficit: Does the Governor’s 2004-05 Proposed Budget Restore California’s Fiscal Health While Protecting Public Services?” 2:00pm-3:30pm, State Capitol, Room 437. Sacramento. RSVP to Rebecca at 916-444-0500, or cbp@cbp.org. (California Budget Project)

Wed. Feb. 4th:
o Medi-Cal Stakeholder Discussion Session, regarding Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's recently-announced proposal to “reform” the Medi-Cal program. The session includes a brief presentation of the proposal, and a period for question and answer and comment. California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Belshé and staff from the California Department of Health Services will lead this session. 1:00pm-3:00pm. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ Board Room. 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles. Please RSVP by phoning (916) 440-7800 or e-mailing mcreform@dhs.ca.gov. (California Health and Human Services Agency)

o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference: 11:00am. California State University-Chico.


Sat. Feb.7th
o Panel: Focus on Health Care Coverage, Who’s Covered, What Remains to be Done & Status of Universal Care Proposals. Speakers include Margaret Taylor, Director, Health Services, San Mateo County, on San Mateo County’s Children Health Initiative. 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon San Mateo County Health Services Department, 225 37 Avenue. San Mateo. (League of Women Voters of San Mateo County)

Tues. Feb.10th:
o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference, with a focus on seniors. Palm Springs.

Wed. Feb. 11th:
o Grassroots Meeting. Topic: SB921: Update and Discussion on Ways to Organize Support for the Kuehl Bill within the Marin County clinician community. 7:30 PM Social Justice Center of Marin, 1000 Sir Francis Drake, San Anselmo. (Health Care for All--Marin County)

Thurs. Feb 12th:
o Legislative Briefing on Budget Health Cuts and the proposed Medi-Cal “Reform” Proposal. Sacramento. (Health Access and several other groups)

o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference, with an environmental theme. Monterey.

Wed. Feb 18th:
o Conference on Care and Coverage for the Uninsured. Speakers include Bob Ross, California Endowment; Gary Yates, California Wellness Foundation; Jeff Rideout, Blue Shield Foundation of California; Trish Riley, Director of Health Policy and Finance, Maine; Senator Jackie Speier; Secretary Kim Belshe; Assemblymembers Dario Frommer, Jenny Oropeza, and Keith Richman; and Mark Smith, California HealthCare Foundation. 8:00am-5:00pm. Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Sacramento. For more information, call 310-828-0338. (Insure the Uninsured Project)

o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference: Fresno

o Community Forum: “Band-Aids for Budget Cuts: What do deep cuts to health and human services means for communities of color?” Location: Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Los Angeles. Contact: Sarah Mercer, CPEHN, 510.832.1160, smercer@cpehn.org (California Pan-Ethnic Health Network & Latino Issues Forum)

Thurs. Feb. 19th:
o Budget Accountability Act Press Conference, with an environmental theme, Santa Barbara.

Fri. Feb 20th:
o Community Forum: Latinos & Environmental Health in the San Joaquin Valley, 9 a.m.-2:30p.m., Casa Blanca Social Hall, 2317 Tuolumne Street, Fresno. For more information or to RSVP, Contact Rey Leon, 559-241-6562 or rleon@lif.org. (Latino Issues Forum)

Tues. Feb.24th:
o Community Forum: “Band-Aids for Budget Cuts: What do deep cuts to health and human services means for communities of color?” State Building, Oakland. Contact: Sarah Mercer, CPEHN, 510.832.1160, smercer@cpehn.org (California Pan-Ethnic Health Network & Latino Issues Forum)

Wed. Feb.25th:
o Community Forum: “Band-Aids for Budget Cuts: What do deep cuts to health and human services means for communities of color?” Malcolm X Library. San Diego. Contact: Sarah Mercer, CPEHN, 510.832.1160, smercer@cpehn.org (California Pan-Ethnic Health Network & Latino Issues Forum)

Thurs. Feb.26th:
o Community Forum: “Band-Aids for Budget Cuts: What do deep cuts to health and human services means for communities of color?” 10:00am-1:00pm. Location: UC Center, Fresno. Contact: Sarah Mercer, CPEHN, 510.832.1160, smercer@cpehn.org (California Pan-Ethnic Health Network & Latino Issues Forum)


MARCH

Tues. March 2nd:
o Election Day. Presidential Primary. Other primaries for state and national offices. Proposition 56: Budget Accountability Act on the ballot.

Mon. March 8th:
o “SAVE ADAP Rally” AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) clients, HIV/AIDS advocates, other health agencies and community members will rally to urge the Governor and Legislature to provide the funding needed to ensure access to lifesaving drugs. 10:00am. South steps of the State Capitol, Sacramento. To register, please send an email with your name, agency name (if applicable), address, phone number, and email address if available to dvangord@sfaf.org. (San Francisco AIDS Foundation)

Tues. March 9th:
o Conference: “Making Managed Care Work” A two day conference for consumers, advocates, and providers. Speakers include Lesley Cummings, director of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board. Hilton Burbank Airport and Convention Center, Burbank. 9:00am-5:00pm. For information, contact: Nancy Kay Hunt at 213-487-7211 ext 20 or nhunt@wclp.org to reserve your space. (Western Center on Law and Poverty)

Wed. March 10th:
o Conference: “Making Managed Care Work” A two day conference for consumers, advocates, and providers. Hilton Burbank Airport and Convention Center, Burbank. 9:00am-3:30pm. For information, contact: Nancy Kay Hunt at 213-487-7211 ext 20 or nhunt@wclp.org to reserve your space. (Western Center on Law and Poverty)

Thurs. March 18th:
o Conference: “Protecting Priorities in Uncertain Times.” A one-day conference by the CA Budget Project featuring workshops and plenaries examining the state budget crisis and policy issues within the context of the new political environment. Speakers include Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshe. 8:00am-5:00pm. Sacramento Convention Center. For more information, contact conference@cbp.org or check out the website www.cbp.org. (California Budget Project)

Tues. March 23rd:
o Advocacy Day. Sacramento. (California Interfaith Coalition)


MAY

Wed, May 5th:
o Cover the Uninsured Week to be launched at a national event starring Noah Wylie. (Cover the Uninsured Week)

Mon. May 10th-Sun. May 16th :
o Cover the Uninsured Week, during which the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will air national television ads and sponsor 1,000 events around the country “to make the issue of the uninsured a focus of national discussion.” Sacramento. San Francisco. Los Angeles. (Cover the Uninsured Week)

Wed. May 12th:
o Senior Rally. Sacramento. (Several major senior organizations, including AARP, Older Women’s League, Gray Panthers, Congress of California Seniors, and others.)


Mid-May
o Governor Schwarzenegger Announces May Revision of Budget.


JUNE

Sat. June 19th:
o March Across Golden Gate Bridge for Health Care, possibly featuring the Democratic Presidential Candidate. Signs are not allowed on the bridge as they could fly into traffic or into the bay. For more information, contact: Jessica Rothhaar 510-873-8787 ext 107 or JessicaR@health-access.org


NOVEMBER

Tue. Nov. 2nd:
o Election Day: Presidential Race. U.S. Senate Race. California legislative races. SB 2 Referendum.


For more information or to add updates, contact Health Access:
In Sacramento: Anthony Wright, Executive Director, at 916-442-2308, or awright@health-access.org, or 1127 11th Street, Suite 234, Sacramento, CA 95814.
In Northern California: Jessica Rothhaar, Regional Organizer, at 510-873-8787, ext. 107, or jessicar@health-access.org, or 414 13th Street, Suite 450, Oakland, CA 94612.
In Southern California: Idabelle Fosse, Regional Organizer, at 213-748-5287 ext. 229, or idabelle@health-access.org, or 3655 South Grand Ave., Suite 220, Los Angeles, CA 90007.


--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 9:55 PM


 

Monday, January 26, 2004

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Monday, January 26th, 2004

* MEDI-CAL REDESIGN PROCESS STARTS
* SB 2 ON NOVEMBER BALLOT, POLLS WELL
* CONFERENCE ON MANAGED CARE


ADMINISTRATION TO REDESIGN MEDI-CAL FROM A "BLANK SLATE"

Earlier today in Sacramento, HHS Secretary Kim Belshe led a presentation for
various "stakeholder" organizations regarding Governor Schwarzenegger's
proposals for "Medi-Cal reform." Over 100 representatives of provider,
consumer, and constituency organizations, as well as legislative offices,
listened and asked questions about the proposals.

Little new information was given on the substance of the Medi-Cal redesign,
which would include changes to eligibility rules, benefits, cost-sharing,
and the use of managed care.

SUPER-WAIVER: The goal of the Administration is to submit a statewide 1115
"super-waiver" to significantly redesign the Medi-Cal program "from the
ground up," that would grant considerable "flexibility" to the
Administration, and possibly subsume all existing county and state waivers
into a comprehensive package.

TIMELINE: The Administration hopes to do all the work necessary to submit
this waiver by this October, and to quickly get approval by the federal
government by December 2004. This would allow the first half of 2005 for
county and system changes, and for a phased-in implementation to start July
2005.

To meet this ambitious timeline, the Health and Human Services Agency
started its "stakeholders meetings" in Sacramento, with another meeting to
be scheduled in the next few week in Los Angeles. They have created three
workgroups (and possibly might add others) that will meet monthly, on:
* eligibility
* benefits and beneficiary cost-sharing
* managed care
After these workgroups and larger stakeholder meetings in the next few
months, the Administration plans to submit a "waiver concept paper" to the
legislature in May, possibly tied to May Revise. They plan to get the
legislature to approve budget trailer bill language to implement a waiver in
June/July 2003, with the passage of the full budget. They have committed to
public hearings on the waiver before its final submission in October.

GOALS: While Belshe, Stan Rosenstein (Deputy Director of Medical Care
Services, Department of Health Services), and Tom McCaffery (Chief Deputy
Director, Department of Health Services) did indicate they would not do
"wholesale" eliminations in benefits or eligibility, they left a lot of
options on the table. And when asked, they were clear that they ultimate
goal was to acheive "cost containment," and that $400 million was a "target"
for reduction in Medi-Cal funding as a result of these reforms. More
information is available at www.chhs.ca.gov.

Health advocates are working within these workgroups, and outside of them,
to prevent changes and cuts that deny children, families, seniors, and
people with disabilities needed care.


SB 2 PLACED ON NOVEMBER BALLOT BY APPEALS COURT; DOES WELL IN POLL

A referendum on SB 2 (Burton/Speier), the law to expand health coverage to
one million Californians and protect health coverage for millions more who
now get such benefits through their employer, was placed on the November
2004 ballot by an appeals court last week.

The appeals court overturned a lower court ruling in December, that
invalidated petitions to put a referendum on SB 2 on the ballot because they
were declared "misleading." Since it was too late for the March 2004 ballot,
the appeals court reinstated the SB 2 referendum for November.

While business interests like Macy's, McDonald's, and Wal-Mart will wage an
expensive campaign against SB 2, a new poll indicates voters are inclined to
support the bill. The Field Poll indicated that "a large majority (65%)
supports the measures basic provisions after they are described. While
support for SB 2 is strongest among Democrats and women voters, pluralities
of voters across all major subgroups favor the new law." Check out the poll
at www.fieldpoll.com.

Advocates for the insured and the uninsured will begin meeting to strategize
about the campaign to lead up to the November vote.


MANAGED CARE CONFERENCE

ATTACHED is a flyer from the Western Center on Law and Poverty on their
conference, March 9-10, in Burbank, CA: "Making Managed Care Work: A Two Day
Conference for Consumers, Advocates, and Providers."


--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 8:41 PM


 

Monday, January 19, 2004

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Monday, January 19th, 2004

Appropriately on Dr. Martin Luther King Day, we look beyond the struggles of the moment to see our vision for the future, of quality, affordable health care for all. BELOW is a letter from Senator Sheila Kuehl inviting organizational representations to a meeting on her bill for universal health care, for the afternoon of Monday, FEBRUARY 2nd in Sacramento.

If you support the bill but haven't already sent a letter of support on SB 921 to Senator Kuehl, do so now! Her address is The Hon. Sheila Kuehl, Senator, State Capitol, Room 4032, Sacramento, CA 94248. Her fax is 916-324-4823.

---


Dear SB 921 Supporter,

I am writing to invite your organization to attend a meeting on Monday, February 2, 2004, at the Trinity Episcopalian Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

This special event is open to representatives of the hundreds of organizations that have endorsed my single payer bill, SB 921. All supporting organizations are members of the Health Care for All Californians Campaign.

In the last legislative session, we succeeded in getting SB 921 out of the Senate. We now await two difficult committee hearings in Assembly Health and Assembly Revenue and Taxation in the 2004 session.

This meeting will kick off our lobbying campaign. Please try to arrive early to the meeting because we will have a full agenda.

* Review strategy to advance SB 921 in the Assembly.
* Plan organizing work for the Assembly campaign.
* Screening of the new SB 921 video to be used by advocates as an important public education tool, for example, at the start of speaking engagements. Copies of the video will be available at the meeting for a modest charge.
* Update about a comprehensive study of the economic impacts of SB 921. This study is critical to the goals of educating the public about the merits of the bill and persuading Assemblymembers to vote in favor of it.

I hope a representative from your organization will attend. Please RSVP to this invitation by clicking Reply in your email program. Please disregard if you have already RSVP'd.

The cathedral is wheelchair accessible. There is a parking lot on the same block (entrance on N Street) and another at 27th and N Street (across from the cathedral).

Thank you for all your help in the past and your continued support in the future.

I hope you can participate on February 2.

Sincerely,

Sen. Sheila Kuehl

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 6:32 PM


 

Monday, January 12, 2004

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Monday, January 12th, 2004

ATTACHED is our Health Budget Cuts Scorecard, which not only details both the proposals by Governor Schwarzenegger and their impacts, but also includes the cuts that have been made in the last two years, to show the cumulative effect. As in previous years, we will update the scorecard as the proposals go through the legislative process.

FYI, the California Budget Project's quick run-down of the budget proposal is at their web site: http://www.cbp.org/2004/040109govbudgetfinal.pdf.



NOTES ON MEDI-CAL "REDESIGN"

Beyond the proposed mid-year cuts to Medi-Cal provider rate cuts and the enrollment caps to Healthy Families and other programs, the most significant news from the Governor Schwarzenegger's budget proposal is the proposed federal waiver to "reform" or "redesign" Medi-Cal.

While it does not project savings from the budget in 2004-05, the administration is anticipating around $400 million in savings in 2005-06. This raises serious concern about the scope of this proposal. The vague language can be read as a reduction of eligibility, enrollment, and benefits, and an increase in cost-sharing on these low-income populations. The California Health and Human Services Agency says they *may* do the following:

* "Simplification" is described as "aligning Medi-Cal's eligibility standards and processes" with CalWORKS and SSI/SSP.
+ This suggests reducing eligibility for children and families, as well as seniors and people with disabilities.

* "Multi-Tiered Benefit/Premium Structure" is changing Medi-Cal into a "tiered progam that provides comprehensive benefits to federally mandated populations and basic benefits to optional eligibles, with more comprehensive benefits available to those willing to pay premiums."
+ This suggests either reducing benefits or raising costs for many low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and families.

* "Co-Payments" is "requiring co-payments from Medi-Cal beneficiaries."
+ This suggests raising costs for low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and families.

* "Conform Benefits to Private Plans" is to "conform the basic Medi-Cal benefits package to that of private health plans."
+ This suggests eliminating medically necessary benefits for all on Medi-Cal.

* "Managed Care Reform" is to "expand managed care into additional counties" and other items, including to "encourage enrollment of aged, blind and disabled into managed care."
+ This is of great concern to those communities, which are frequent users of care.

It should be noted that $400 million dollars in state savings anticipated in 2005-06 is significantly greater than the combined savings sought from many of the worst cuts proposed last year, that were rejected by the Legislature, including: elimination of "optional" benefits including dental ($160 million), medical supplies ($55 million), and 12 other needed benefits ($60 million); institution of co-payments ($30 million); and imposing share-of-cost on tens of thousands of the aged and disabled ($63 million). If the Administration does not propose full elimination of the such benefits, as it is suggesting, how else will it attain such savings?

The Administration promises to "engage stakeholders, constituents, and the Legislature to help inform the design of these reform efforts." While pleased with that spirit, health advocates are wary of this Medi-Cal "reform" proposal, and how such savings will be acheived without major impact on the health and financial security of the millions of Californians on Medi-Cal. Health Access will report when we have more information on this proposal and what avenues are available to provide input.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 10:33 PM


 

Friday, January 09, 2004

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Friday, January 9th, 2004


BUDGET CUTS TO DENY COVERAGE TO THOUSANDS, INCREASE HEALTH COSTS FOR MILLIONS
* Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Proposes Medi-Cal Provider Rate Cuts,
Caps on Enrollment in Various Health Programs and Significant Changes to
Medi-Cal.

Governor Schwarzenegger unveiled his budget proposal for the 2004-05 year. On health care issues, he re-affirmed his proposals from his mid-year budget proposal, including cutting provider rates and placing enrollment caps to deny coverage to children in Healthy Families, immigrants in Medi-Cal, children with disabilities in California Childrens Services, and others in various other programs. Other announced cuts were generally on a smaller scale. Of particular interest, the Governor is also proposing "reforms" to Medi-Cal that are not fully detailed, that would not provide savings in the budget year, but that are expected to yield "significant" savings in future years.

SPECIFIC CUTS. The cuts include proposals to:
· MEDI-CAL PROVIDER RATES: Reduce Medi-Cal provider rates by another 10%. This would mean even fewer doctors and other providers would refuse to take Medi-Cal patients; already half do not accept these children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Last year’s 5% cut has been enjoined by Federal courts because of access issues.
· ENROLLMENT CAPS: Deny coverage to children who are eligible to enroll in Healthy Families, as well as children with disabilities in California Children’s Services, immigrants in Medi-Cal, people with disabilities in the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program, patients in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, and other Californians.
· INCREASED COSTS: Raise costs on the low- and moderate-income families on Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, forcing them to pay higher costs for various benefits, through increased co-pays, deductibles, and other costs.
· MAJOR MEDI-CAL CHANGES: Implement long-term changes to Medi-Cal, which currently services over 6 million seniors, people with disabilities, children, and their parents. These include not only increasing costs onto
families, but changing eligibility and enrollment, and reducing benefits.

BUDGET DOCUMENTS
* Interested advocates can get more detailed documents from the Department of Finance, at: http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/BUD_DOCS/Bud_link.htm.
* An alternative analysis is available at the Senate Budget Committee
website, at:
http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/COMMITTEE/STANDING/BFR/_home/
* A more specific budget overview from the Department of Health and Human Services is at:
http://www.chhs.ca.gov/docs/2004-2005%20Budget%20Proposal%20Summary.pdf


IRONY WATCH, CONTINUED: In presenting his budget, Governor Schwarzenegger continued to stress that he will not raise taxes. Yet the budget raising costs (if not taxes in name) on low- and moderate-income Californians to access basic health care, yet it never asks wealthy Californians--like the Governor himself--to share in the solution through restoring the upper tax bracket. The challenge for advocates is to clearly identify these stark choices.

More information and materials about the budget will be forthcoming.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 7:06 PM


 

Thursday, January 08, 2004

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Thursday, January 8th, 2004


BUDGET CUTS TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW
Protest and Press Activities Planned Throughout State for January; Calendar Attached

NEW BUDGET: As health advocates brace themselves for the announcement of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2004-05 budget and proposed cuts, activities are already scheduled to respond. Based on the mid-year reduction package, we already know the Governor proposes cuts to Medi-Cal provider rates, and caps on enrollment to Healthy Familes and other health and human service programs. We expect other cuts as well.

SAME MESSAGE: Health advocates are planning to respond once again by:
* demonstrating the negative impact of the cuts: to health and financial well-being of specific patients, to the economy, and to the health system on which we all rely.
* indicating that the cuts can be prevented, by supporting a balanced approach to the budget that includes not just cuts but also increased revenues, such as raising the upper tax brackets.
* also supporting reforming the budget process (as in Proposition 56, the Budget Accountability Act), so we are not in this fix again.

NEW CALENDAR OF EVENTS: To respond, advocates have scheduled press actions and other efforts for virtually every work day in January, making sure that we continue to "bang the drum" about the negative impact of the proposed cuts. BELOW and ATTACHED is a calendar of numerous activities and public events to respond to these cuts, by numerous organizations and coalitions.

The descriptions feature the contact people to reach to get involved in an event of interest in your area. If you have an event to add, or have additional information or changes to a listed event, please contact Health Access. We plan to put out this calendar on a regular basis, as was done last year. We hope it helps those interested join into these efforts, and help their planning of events and activities of their own, to increase coordination and prevent scheduling conflicts.

---

Last Updated 01/08/04


JANUARY

Tue. Jan. 6th:
· Governor Schwarzenegger’s State of the State Address. Sacramento
· People with Disabilities Community Protest. State Capitol. Sacramento

Fri. Jan 9th:
· Governor Schwarzenegger Unveils January Budget Proposal. Sacramento.

Mon. Jan 12th:
· Budget Briefing on Health Cuts by Health Advocacy Organizations. 9:30am. Room 126 of State Capitol. Sacramento. For more info, contact awright@health-access.org. (Health Access, California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative, Western Center on Law and Poverty, 100% Campaign, MALDEF, many others)
· CalWorks Protest: “Don’t Take the Shirts Off Our Back,” 10:00am, North Steps of the Capitol. Sacramento. For more info, contact rebecca@california-partnership.org. (Lifetime/California Partnership)

Tue. Jan 13th:
· Rally Against ADAP Cut, San Francisco. (SF AIDS Foundation)

Wed. Jan 14th:
· Prop 56 Press Event. State Bldg. 300 Spring Street; LA, CA. For more info, contact Ericka Smith at 213-368-8609. (Californians for Budget Accountability)


Thu. Jan 15th:
· I Have A Dream Day of Action (Save the Safety Net Coalition)
o Sacramento, Coalition Press Conference, 10:00am. For more info, contact Jessica Bartholow, jbartholow@accfb.org. (Alameda County Food Bank)
o San Francisco, Press Conference – Cuts Affecting Immigrants, 10:00am, For more info, contact Rebecca or Isabel at alegria@nilc.org (CA Immigrant Welfare Collaborative)
o Los Angeles, Rally & Press Conference - Cuts Affecting Immigrants, 11:30am. For more info, contact vgeronimo@apalc.org. (CA Immigrant Welfare Collaborative)
· Community Clinic Legislative Breakfast (California Primary Care Association)

Fri. Jan 16th:
· HIV Call-In Day (Being Alive LA)

Tue. Jan 20th:
· Immigrant Call-In Day (California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative)

Wed Jan 21st:
· Senior Call-In Day
· Los Angeles Press Conference on Cuts to Seniors. 11:00am. State Bldg. 300 Spring Street. 11:00am. For more info, contact Starlight Garcia, 213-748-5287 ext. 230. (Health Access)
· San Francisco Press Conference on Cuts to Seniors. For more info, contact Bruce Livingston, 415-546-1334 (Senior Action Network)
· Sacramento Press Action: Arnold Future Film Festival. Sacramento. For more info, contact Jessica Bartholow, jbartholow@accfb.org. (Hunger Action Coalition)

Wed. Jan 21st-Sat. Jan 24th
· Families USA Conference, Washington, DC For more info, go to www.familiesusa.org. (Families USA)

Thu. Jan 22nd:
· People with Disabilities Call-in Day (California Federation of Independent Living Centers)

Fri. Jan. 23rd:
· LA Press Event on ADAP Cuts for HIV Community. (Being Alive LA)

Tue. Jan 27th:
· CalWorks and Food Stamps Call-In Day (California Partnership/Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness)

Wed. Jan 28th:
· Children Call-In Day (Children’s Defense Fund)


Fri. Jan 30th:
· Training and Update on Governor’s Budget Proposal. Speakers will include Assemblywoman Judy Chu and State Senator Sheila Kuehl, as well as Jean Ross, CBP and Anthony Wright, Health Access. For more info, contact Gwen Gary at ggary@libertyhill.org, 310-453-3611. (Liberty Hill Foundation, UCLA Labor Center, SEIU 660, Health Access, Health Policy Outreach Center of Pat Brown Institute)


FEBRUARY:

Mon. Feb 2nd:
· Advocacy Organization Meeting on SB921 with Senator Sheila Kuehl, Westminster Church, Sacramento. (Health Care for All Californians Campaign)

Wed. Feb 18th:
· Insure the Uninsured Project Conference, Sacramento (ITUP)


MARCH:

Thurs. March 18th:
· “Protecting Priorities in Uncertain Times.” A one day conference of workshop and speakers around the state budget crisis. Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento. For more information, contact conference@cbp.org or check out the website www.cbp.org. (California Budget Project)


To add events and updates, contact Health Access:
In Sacramento: Anthony Wright, Executive Director, at 916-442-2308, or awright@health-access.org, or 1127 11th Street, Suite 234, Sacramento, CA 95814.
In Northern California: Jessica Rothhaar, Regional Organizer, at 510-873-8787, ext. 107, or jessicar@health-access.org, or 414 13th Street, Suite 450, Oakland, CA 94612.
In Southern California: Idabelle Fosse, Regional Organizer, at 213-748-5287 ext. 229, or idabelle@health-access.org, or 3655 South Grand Ave., Suite 220, Los Angeles, CA 90007.


--
Anthony E. Wright
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 8:06 PM


 

Digging a bigger whole for reform...

 

Scoring at home...

 

We are hiring, to make a difference...

 

Field Poll: strong opposition to the health cuts.....

 

An Unhealthy Trend

 

Dressing up the Individual (Market)

 

A great debate on the great divide...

 

Jones to be chair of Health Committee...

 

Bass on the budget...

 

Pretty soon, the insureable will be a pretty exclu...